CCISD graduates meet their goals

CCISD graduates multiple campuses Saturday

CORPUS CHRISTI - Francisco "Pancho" Saldivar Sr. makes the most of his goals.

"If you set a goal, you can do it," said Saldivar, referring to three of his own he made this past December.

The first: lose 50 pounds. He's at 48, he said.

The second: Run in the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon. After four of his teammates dropped out from this year's race, he settled for a 5K run in Ingleside. He took second place in his age division.

On Saturday, he accomplished his third goal: Receive his high school diploma — at age 55.

"I have been waiting for this for a long time," he said.

The Miller alumnus received his high school diploma, as did more than 2,000 students from five CCISD high schools during commencement ceremonies at the American Bank Center Friday and Saturday.

Saldivar, who left high school during his junior year to enlist in the Army, was cheered on by his wife Irma, daughter Michelle Garcia, son Frank Jr., his grandchildren — ages 3 months to 12 years — and friends and co-workers.

Saldivar, as well as his uncle Calixto Pulido and half-brother Lazaro Zaragoza, walked the stage Saturday to receive a diploma as part of Texas Education Code §28.0251 — an initiative for those who left school for the military.

Qualified veterans must be an honorably discharged military personnel, scheduled to graduate from high school between 1940 and 1975 and left high school before graduation to serve in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.

Saldivar was scheduled to graduate from Miller High School in 1975 but joined the Army to serve during the Vietnam War.

"I had something in my heart that made me want to serve," he said.

Saldivar, an aircraft weapon mechanic from December 1973 to June 1977, said he had several opportunities to obtain his GED.

Between raising a family and traveling across Texas for 30 years as an 18-wheeler truck driver, Saldivar didn't have much time. He also spent the past eight years working for the Corpus Christi Army Depot.

After Saldivar had a heart attack last year, he wanted to change his lifestyle.

"I decided to do something," he said.

With his diploma, Saldivar said he's considering taking college courses in environmental studies.

Although Saldivar's path to graduation was different from most, he celebrated just like the traditional students: surrounded by family.

Thousands of well-wishers packed into American Bank Center throughout the day. Graduates were released from the building first, with family instructed to find their grad for photos outside. With less than an hour between ceremonies, cars were lined up for blocks and parking lots were packed.

Daniel Wood, one of Carroll High School's more than 500 graduates, said he had a hard time sleeping Friday night.

"It's bittersweet," said Wood, who plans to study kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi this fall.

Christina Ramirez and about 10 of her family members screamed from a top section of the arena for her cousin Chris Cano.

"This energy goes through us," she said.

Ramirez said their families are close-knit, from weekly family gatherings to helping Cano with asking his girlfriend to prom.

"We always manage to stick together," she said.

Chris Reyna held on to the sign he made for his best friend and Carroll High School graduate Elesa Villarreal.

The Miller High School junior settled down into his seat in the arena as he got ready to watch his second ceremony of the day: one for Villarreal and the other to see his fellow classmates.

"I don't really want them to leave," he said. "But I think they're ready to set out on their own."